A New Hampshire man has been charged in U.S. District Court in Portland with kidnapping a former Maine woman and taking her across the state line.
Emanuel Sloboda, 31, of Dover, New Hampshire, made his first court appearance earlier this week but was not asked to enter pleas to one count each kidnapping and interstate domestic violence because he has not yet been indicted by a federal grand jury. He is being held without bail.
The alleged victim told police she had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Sloboda, who is also a former Maine resident, for about nine years. She said that in October, she was forced to leave her parents’ home in Acton, in southern Maine, to get away from him.
The incident that led to Sloboda’s arrest began the evening of Nov. 25 in New Hampshire, according to the affidavit. Sloboda allegedly forced the woman to get into his car by threatening to shoot her brother.
When she got into the car, Sloboda allegedly took her phone, then drove her to his former home in Acton. While in the driveway, he allegedly tried to strangle her with the seatbelt.
She was able to get away from him and out of the car, but he recaptured the woman, tried to strangle her from behind and forced her to the ground, according to the affidavit. Sloboda allegedly told the woman that if she would stop screaming, he would take her home.
On the drive back to New Hampshire, the alleged victim was able to get her phone away from Sloboda and began texting for help, the affidavit said. The woman later told police that Sloboda allegedly was driving erratically, between 90 and 100 miles per hour, and going off the road. He recovered and drove her to a Dunkin’ in Rochester, New Hampshire.
A physical confrontation took place in the car outside the coffee shop, according to the affidavit. An employee saw Sloboda allegedly striking and choking the woman and intervened. The alleged victim hid inside the Dunkin’ until police arrived at about 9:15 p.m. and Sloboda drove away.
If convicted, Sloboda faces up to life in federal prison on the kidnapping charge and up to 10 years on the interstate domestic violence charge.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.